Apple is developing a smart doorbell and lock system that will use Face ID to unlock doors for known residents, Mark Gurman reports in the Power On newsletter. According to Gurman, the face-scan doorbell will connect to a smart lock, which could include existing HomeKit-compatible third-party locks. Or Apple could “[team up] with a specific lock manufacturer to offer a complete system on day one.”
Most likely, it will be some time before we see a doorbell-lock system on the market, if we see it at all. Gurman reports that it is in the early stages of development and won’t be ready until at least the end of next year. According to Gurman, the doorbell will help Apple compete with products such as Amazon’s Ring and Google Nest, and it is just one of several smart home products Apple is working on. The company is also reportedly developing a home security camera that will work with a smart home hub, which is rumored to debut next year.
